The Hailey rodeo arena was dismantled earlier this summer. Photo by Mountain Express

The Hailey City Council on Monday approved a request by the nonprofit Hailey Ice to defer payment of $47,000 in development impact fees until December. The fees would cover the cost of impacts to city services associated with an indoor ice rink the organization plans to build at the Hailey Rodeo Grounds.

Development impact fees are assessed to developers to pay for increases in demands on city water, sewer, police and other services.

Hailey Ice plans to break ground this fall on an ice rink, as part of a master redevelopment plan at the Hailey Rodeo Grounds at the south end of town. Normally, the impact fees would be due before the beginning of construction.

In May, Hailey voters approved a $3.5 million bond issue to help fund the city's share of a $6 million to $7 million redevelopment of the site. The plan calls for the Hailey Ice rink, a new rodeo arena, a visitor center and improvements to the existing skateboard park.

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Hailey Ice representatives have told Hailey officials they expect an anonymous donation of $3 million to $5 million to complete the ice rink, which they said could be used year-round for various forms of recreation.

The donation has not yet been acquired. However, City Attorney Ned Williamson said it should be in hand by Dec. 31.

"It's a cash flow problem," Williamson said.

Hailey Ice has said it will move forward with about $500,000 in donations it has gathered in the last 10 years to get the project underway.

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